Help a DVD rom newbie

[aph1]

Hopefully this is something simple...

Hi, I just recently bought a laptop computer and have with that a combo DVD rom/ CD writer. CDs work fine but when it comes to playing DVD's it won't work.

I have windows XP and with it came PowerDVD 4. Whenever I try to play a DVD on PowerDVD it says "No disc in Drive D:"

I thought it might be region problem (cos I did buy it overseas, Singapore) but I d/l'd "Drive Region Info" and it claims "the drive has no region protection".

So what could the problem be? (DVD's work fine)
If any other info needed, reply.

Thanks.

[setarip]

Does Windows Explorer recognize that there's a DVD in the drive?

[aph1]

No, i dont think Windows recognises it. Nothing automatically launches when I insert a dvd.

[aph1]

and when I click the D: in Windows Explorer, it's blank.

Please help.

[setarip]

Perhaps you actualyy only have a CD burner, without the DVD ROM...

[aph1]

It's definitely a DVD rom. It says so on the the drive itself and in Windows Explorer

[Enchanter]

Have you tried different discs on the drive? A firmware update for the drive might help too.

[aph1]

Yes, I have tried multiple DVDs and still nothing.
CD-roms, CD's, CD-R's work fine.

Do I still need firmware even if it is region free?

[Enchanter]

A firmware update might solve this kind of problem. It does not hurt to try; just make sure that the power to the system is not cut off during flashing or else you will find yourself short of one optical drive.

[aph1]

Hi Enchanter, would you be able to help me, I dont reallly know what to do exactly.

I went over and found my drive (Sony CRX820E) over at
http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.ph...&manufactor=30 but dont know what to do next.

[WildmanJoe]

This might help...

http://www.firmware-flash.com/~pioneerdvd/Firmware_FAQ.html

or the main page

http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php

[Enchanter]

Looks like no region-free firmware has been made available on that site (and yet yours has oddly been region-freed). You might try searching Sony's own website, or that of your laptop manufacturer, for a firmware update.

Normally, to update a drive's firmware, one requires a tool (i.e. program) and the firmware file (normally in the form of a BIN file). The site you previously linked should have just the tool for you to flash your drive. The problem is in locating the right firmware for the right drive (you don't want to flash the drive with the wrong firmware, trust me).

Once you have located the tool and the firmware update, follow the instructions that should be included with the tool. If possible, save the old firmware (so you can revert back to it should the new firmware not fix the problem and instead worsen things).